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The 43 most anticipated movies of 2021
One year into the new decade, the movie prospects keep getting better. The releases slated for 2021 are so exciting they’ll make you salivate with anticipation, and we can’t wait to see them. For starters we’ll be getting another Asian blockbuster in director Destin Daniel Cretton’s Marvel entry, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Then the Fast Family will be back for another action-packed installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise (can you believe we’re at 9 movies already?!) Not to mention, the Rock’s much delayed Black Adam adaptation will finally zoom into theaters. And to top it all off, we’ll finally, finally, finally get the next chapter of the Avatar story from James Cameron after over a decade of patience. We’ll also be getting monumental sequels for Space Jam, Sherlock Holmes, and Tomb Raider. The list is long and it’ll probably get longer, so start marking your calendars now.
JANUARY
The Last Duel
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer
Opening on: January 8, 2021
t’s been two years since Ridley Scott did the unthinkable and reshot All The Money In The World weeks before its release date. But this time around, he’ll be racing against history with this Edwardian tale of knights and maidens. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will reunite, with Killing Eve‘s breakout star Jodie Comer filling out the cast.
Mortal Kombat
Directed by: Simon McQuoid
Starring: Joe Taslim, Ludi Lin, Mechad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Elissa Cadwell, Ng Chin Han, Max Huang, Josh Lawson, Jessica McNamee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Sisi Stringer
Opening on: January 15, 2021
If you’ve been waiting for the inevitable Mortal Kombat reboot, 2021 has got you covered. With Lewis Tan, Mechad Brooks, and Joe Taslim attached to star, the newest franchise installment is bound to be everything you could want in a fantasy martial arts action film. James Wan will be producing, so there’s bound to be some of the magic that made the Saw franchise so successful.
355
Directed by: Simon Kinberg
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Fan Bingbing, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o, Edgar Ramirez, Sebastian Stan, Diane Kruger, Emilio Insolera
Opening on: January 15, 2021
If you’re still missing NBC’s Smash, then you’re in luck. This new spy flick from screenwriter Theresa Rebeck might be just up your alley. Produced by Jessica Chastain and with a star-studded cast that includes Fan Bingbing and Lupita N’yongo, the female-led thriller is bound to make a splash.
Rugrats (2021)
Directed by: David Bowers
Starring: TBD
Opening on: January 29, 2021
Tommy, Chucky and the rest of the gang are back! Details are scarce, with David Bowers at the helm as director, this new live-action remake for the classic Nickelodeon cartoon is bound to be a nostalgia-inducing box office hit.
FEBRUARY
Cinderella
Directed by: Kay Cannon
Starring: Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel
Opening on: February 5, 2021
If there’s anyone who can do justice to Whitney Houston‘s turn as the Fairy Godmother, it’s none other than Broadway legend and Pose star Billy Porter. Sure, we might not need another Cinderella story, but what could be better than vocal legends like Idina Menzel and newcomers like Camila Cabello bringing a classic story to life?
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Awkwafina
Opening on: February 12, 2021
After bringing the true story of Bryan Stevenson to screen in this year’s Just Mercy, Destin Daniel Cretton will be joining the big leagues for his next project. Shang-Chi will be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Asian-led film. Kim’s Conveince‘s Simu Liu is set to star, and The Farewell’s Awkwafina has also been cast in an unknown role.
Ron's Gone Wrong (2020)
Directed by: Alessandro Carloni, Jean-Philippe Vine
Starring: Thomas Barbusca, Bentley Kalu
Opening on: February 26, 2021
Originally slated for a late 2020 release, Ron’s Gone Wrong was pushed back a few months after 20th Century Fox was acquired by Disney. The animated adventure is set in a world where every child’s best friend is a digitally connected robot and follows one young boy who discovers his own robot pal doesn’t quite work the way it should.
Untitled M Night Shyamalan Project
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: TBD
Opening on: February 26, 2022
As usual, M. Night Shyamalan‘s newest project is shrouded in mystery, but it’s sure to be worth the wait. This untitled project is the first of two the horror auteur is slated to direct for Universal in the coming years, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with.
MARCH
Masters of the Universe (2021)
Directed by: Adam and Aaron Nee
Starring: TBD
Opening on: March 5, 2021
The She-Ra reboot has been doing well over at Netflix, so it’s only natural that He-Man would follow. After the 1987 cult film flopped at the box office, it’s prime time for a reboot that brings all that campy goodness to screen. No cast has been announced, but anyone who follows in Dolph Lundgren’s shoes would be lucky.
Jackass 4
Directed by: TBD
Starring: TBD
Opening on: March 5, 2021
We don’t yet know who from the original Jackass gang might show up in this next installment, though both Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O have expressed in doing more outrageous stunts and pranks on the big screen. All we know is that Paramount has officially announced a release date for March 5, 2021, so we’ll just have to wait and see who jumps on board.
Untitled Paranormal Activity Movie
Directed by: TBD
Starring: TBD
Opening on: March 19, 2021
There are very few details on the seventh installment in the noted horror franchise. But after three Rotten films in a row, the series is primed for a big critical comeback. Jason Blum will produce for a late March release.
Tomb Raider 2
Directed by: Ben Wheatley
Starring: Alicia Vikander
Opening on: March 19, 2021
Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander is back to reprise her role as the action heroine Lara Croft in the sequel to her 2018 film. No other cast has been announced yet, but Ben Wheatley will direct a script from Amy Jump.
The Boss Baby 2 (2021)
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Starring: TBD
Opening on: March 26, 2021
The Boss Baby might be Rotten, but its monster box office take shows the audience is hungry for more. Fans of Alec Baldwin‘s fast talking baby in business will be pleased to know he’ll be back to reprise his role in 2021. Tom McGrath will return to direct.
APRIL
Fast & Furious 10 (2021)
Directed by: Justin Lin
Starring: Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster
Opening on: April 2, 2021
Fast and Furious means one thing: family. And in 2021, the Fast Family will be back for the tenth installment in Universal’s biggest franchise. After a brief detour with Hobbs and Shaw in 2019 and Fast & Furious 9 slated for 2020, the gang will be back on our screens, pulling heists and drinking Coronas. We can’t wait!
Vivo (2021)
Directed by: Kirk DeMicco
Starring: TBD
Opening on: April 16, 2021
Hot on the heels of the Oscar-nominated Moana and 2020’s In The Heights movie adaptation, Broadway legend Lin-Manuel Miranda will return to his musical roots with a new animated musical from Sony. Kirk DeMicco will direct, but no other cast has been announced yet.
MAY
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2021)
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Elizabeth Olsen
Opening on: May 7, 2021
The Sorcerer Supreme will return for a new adventure in the next Doctor Strange film. Joined by Benedict Wong and Elizabeth Olsen, the MCU sequel will be directed by Scott Derrickson who also directed the Certified Fresh 2016 film.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2021)
Directed by: TBD
Starring: Keanu Reeves
Opening on: May 21, 2021
Keanu Reeves has been having a cultural moment the past few years, thanks in no small part to the incredible John Wick franchise. In 2021 he’ll be back for number four to continue the story.
The Matrix 4 (2021)
Directed by: Lana Wachowski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff
Opening on: May 21, 2021
And, of course, if John Wick: Chapter 4 doesn’t give you all the Keanu you need, you can always pair it with this movie, which opens on the same day. We don’t know much else about the movie at this point, but we do know that Carrie-Anne Moss will return as Trinity, and the cast will be rounded out by people like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, and Jonathan Groff. Lana Wachowski will also return to direct, though Lilly Wachowski will be unavailable due to other commitments.
Cruella (2021)
Directed by: Alex Timbers and Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Joel Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Emma Thompson
Opening on: May 28, 2021
Emma Stone will star in Disney’s latest live-action remake of an old classic. In the vein of Maleficient, Cruella will focus on the enigmatic villain of 101 Dalmatians in her youth and show how she became obsessed with Dalmatian fur. With Emma Thompson and Mark Strong rounding out the cast, it’s bound to be worth the wait.
JUNE
Sesame Street (2021)
Directed by: Jonathan Krisel
Starring: Anne Hathaway
Opening on: June 4, 2021
Who doesn’t know the way to Sesame Street? Details are scarce but the new live action film is bound to feature all the favourite characters you remember. And with Anne Hathaway attached to star, it’s bound to be delightful.
Micronauts (2021)
Directed by: Dean De Blois
Starring: TBD
Opening on: June 4, 2021
The long-awaited Micronauts film will finally touch down in 2021. No cast has been announced, but How to Train Your Dragon director Dean de Blois is attached to direct. Based on the action figures by Mego, the film will also be produced by J.J. Abrams.
Jurassic World 3 (2021)
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum
Opening on: June 11, 2021
The stars are back for another tangle with the dinosaurs in the third installment of this rebooted franchise. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will return alongside franchise favorites Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum for a summer release.
The Batman (2021)
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey, Wright, Paul Dano, Andy Serkis, Jayme Lawson
Opening on: June 25, 2021
It hasn’t been long since Batman was last onscreen, but Batfleck is stepping down as the caped crusader and serving as producer instead for the new movie from Matt Reeves. With an unconventional cast that includes everyone’s favorite arthouse vampire Robert Pattinson in the title role, it’s bound to be worth another look at Bruce Wayne’s origin story.
JULY
Sing 2 (2021)
Directed by: TBD
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, John C. Reilly, Idina Menzel, Resse Witherspoon, Nick Kroll, Scarlett Johansson
Opening on: July 2, 2021
Originally slated for Christmas 2020, Universal’s Sing 2 will release summer 2021 instead. The animated feature about a koala talent agent will see most of the principal cast return, with the addition of Idina Menzel and Selena Gomez. Chances are it’ll be another big family-friendly hit.
Indiana Jones 5 (2021)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford
Opening on: July 9, 2021
Indiana Jones is back again in this second reboot to the classic action film series. Harrison Ford is attached to reprise his role, and Steven Spielberg will direct. With a wealth of history to draw from and 13 years since the last film, it’ll be exciting to see how the story returns for a brand new audience.
Space Jam 2 (2021)
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Starring: LeBron James, Don Cheadle
Opening on: July 16, 2021
Speaking of old stories for new audiences, LeBron James‘ long-awaited Space Jam sequel will finally arrive in 2021. With Don Cheadle starring alongside the basketball legend and Ryan Coogler producing, there’s no telling how much fun the Malcolm D. Lee-directed follow-up will be.
Spider-Man: Homecoming 3
Directed by: TBD
Starring: Tom Holland
Opening on: July 16, 2021
After a tense stalemate between Sony and Disney, Spider-Man will be back for a third installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the intense cliffhanger of the last film’s ending, we can’t wait to see what’s next for the friendly neighborhood hero!
Mission: Impossible 7 (2021)
Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise
Opening on: July 23, 2021
Tom Cruise will be back in action for the seventh installment in the franchise that showcased his willingness to engage in death-defying stunts. Christopher McQuarrie will also be back as writer and director after serving those roles in the last two films. Hopefully he’ll be able to pull off a hat trick with a third Certified Fresh film in a row.
AUGUST
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney
Opening on: August 6, 2021
2016’s Suicide Squad may be rotten, but the 2021 follow-up might just redeem the series. Most of the primary cast is returning, with Idris Elba joining in a new role. The star-studded cast is also adding Storm Reid, Flula Borg, Nathan Fillion and Pete Davidson. James Gunn is attached to direct before he returns to Disney for Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
OCTOBER
Untitled Elvis Film
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks
Opening on: October 1, 2021
Austin Butler beat out tons of hopefuls to win the role of the famed King of Rock and Roll for this biopic from Warner Brothers. With Baz Lurhmann on board to write and direct, it’s bound to be a lush cinematic experience. Tom Hanks is also attached in a supporting role.
Halloween Ends (2021)
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak
Opening on: October 15, 2021
The original scream queen is back for the rumored final installment in the iconic Halloween franchise. After the success of the reboot-quel in 2018, a second film is slated for 2020, leading to the final showdown in 2021. Jamie Lee Curtis and Judy Greer are attached to star once again.
NOVEMBER
Thor: Love and Thunder (2021)
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson
Opening on: November 5, 2021
After delivering on the Certified Fresh Thor: Ragnarok, Takia Waititi will be back for Thor: Love and Thunder in 2021. With the fate of our titular hero a little unclear after Avengers: Endgame, it’ll be great to see what he’s up to. And best of all, Natalie Portman will be back to reprise her role as Jane Foster, who, if 2019’s Comic-Con was any indication, will wield Mjolnir herself. It’s a family reunion!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3 (2020)
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston
Opening on: November 12, 2021
The second Fantastic Beasts film didn’t manage to find its audience, but with a world as big as the Harry Potter universe, there’s bound to be something to draw them back in. J.K. Rowling is back as the screenwriter in this original franchise and Eddie Redmayne will reprise his role as the enigmatic Newt Scamander.
Dungeons & Dragons (2021)
Directed by: Rob Letterman
Starring: TBD
Opening on: November 19, 2021
The original film adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons might be Rotten, but the 2021 reboot is set to redeem the franchise based on the beloved role-playing game of the same name. There are no cast details yet, but noted D&D superfan Joe Manganiello was rumored to be attached as recently as 2019.
DECEMBER
Avatar 2 (2021)
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, CCH Pounder, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Joel David Moore
Opening on: December 17, 2021
What have the Na’vi been up to for the last decade? Believe it or not, that’s how long it’s been since the original Avatar film barreled into cinemas and changed the industry forever. In 2021, we’ll finally get a sequel, and three more films in the franchise are already in the pipeline. It’s a long wait, but it’ll be worth it for a follow up to the Certified Fresh sci-fi epic.
Hotel Transylvania 4 (2021)
Directed by: TBD
Starring: Adam Sandler
Opening on: December 22, 2021
Adam Sandler might be busy raking in critical raves for Uncut Gems (Certified Fresh at 92%), but families will be happy to hear that he’ll be back for another go as Dracula in Hotel Transylvania 4, just in time for a Christmas release.
Black Adam
Directed by: TBD
Starring: Dwayne Johnson
Opening on: December 22, 2021
Dwayne Johnson has been attached to star in Black Adam since at least as early as 2014, but in 2021 he’ll finally hit the big screen and officially join the DCEU as the all-powerful antihero. As the nemesis to Zachary Levi‘s Shazam, there’s definitely an onscreen crossover to look forward to in the future as well. It’s high time Dwayne Johnson got to play the superhero we all know him to be!
Sherlock Holmes 3
Directed by: TBD
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
Opening on: December 22, 2021
With Robert Downey Jr. free from the MCU, it’s finally time for the long awaited Sherlock Holmes sequel. By 2021, it’ll have been a decade since RDJ and Jude Law last brought their mischievous friendship to Victorian England. Rachel McAdams is back as Irene Adler, with a script from Chris Brancato, best known for his work in television on Hannibal and Narcos.
Wicked (2021)
Directed by: Stephen Daldry
Starring: TBD
Opening on: December 22, 2021
It feels like fans of the musical have been waiting forever for a screen adaption of Wicked, and in 2021, they’ll finally get their wish. No cast details have been announced yet, but with a legacy like Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth to live up to, the lucky ladies who get the gig will have enormous shoes to fill. Here’s to Lea Michele!
Babylon
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Emma Stone (in talks), Brad Pitt (in talks)
Opening on: December 25, 2021
Writer-director Damien Chazelle’s fifth film is, like his Oscar-winning La La Land, another tribute to old Hollywood, this time literally. The story centers on the period of transition when the silent film era began to give way to the “talkies,” and both Emma Stone and Brad Pitt have entered talks to star in the film. Judging from its release date and the announced plans to expand into wide release early the following year, this certainly feels like it’s being set up to be an awards contender.
Blazing Samurai (2018)
Directed by: Chris Bailey, Mark Koetsier
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Cera, Michelle Yeoh, George Takei, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Honsou
Opening on: 2021
Originally slated for release in 2017, the star-studded animated feature will finally see the light of day in 2021. Inspired by Mel Brooks‘ classic western Blazing Saddles, the cast includes Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson and Ricky Gervais.
The Power of the Dog
Directed by: Jane Campion
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Paul Dano
Opening on: 2021
In her follow up to Top of the Lake: China Girl, Jane Campion will reunite with Elisabeth Moss for Netflix’s The Power of The Dog, based on the 1967 novel of the same name. Also starring Benedict Cumberbatch, the film centers on two brothers on a ranch whose relationship shifts when one falls in love with a local widow.
Pinocchio (2021)
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Starring: TBD
Opening on: 2021
This has been one of Guillermo del Toro’s long-in-development passion projects, and it will also be his first foray into animation. The stop motion-animated adaptation of the classic tale will reportedly be a tad darker than we may be accustomed to, with del Toro calling it a “brutalist fable.” Like The Power of the Dog, this was picked up by Netflix and given a 2021 release date; whether or not the streaming giant will put it in theaters remains to be seen.
